DANCING DESPITE DISABILITY
Performers serve as potent reminder to focus on strengths, not weaknesses
The dance “Thousand-hand Bodhisattva” is a golden visual feast, relying on the hair’s breadth precision of the dancers for its impact.
But when some of the performers are hearing impaired, the beautiful dance takes on greater significance, conveying the triumph of the artistic soul over disability.
The China Arts and Entertainment Group presentation of “‘Dance China’ – My Dream” showcases the talents of blind musicians and singers and hearing impaired dancers, incorporating dazzling sets and costumes and flawlessly performed dance movements and music.
The show features everything from lyrical classical ballet to Chinese folk, modern and Latin dances, as well as Chinese opera and other music, all performed by the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe (CDPPAT). And it serves as a potent reminder of what talented young artists can achieve despite a variety of obstacles.
“These performers are as good, and in some cases better than professionals,” says Yunije Gao, director of the China Arts and Entertainment Group, an organization which aims to bring China’s best dance productions to the world. “They really capture the audience.”
Every year, the performance is different, says Gao, who has seen the show 10 times.
“Each time it really got me,” he says. “I felt like crying because I felt really touched.”
CDPPAT was founded in 1987 by a former Chinese government official, Liu Xiaocheng.
“The purpose was really just to help disabled people who had great interest in the arts,” says Gao. “So he created special training for those people.”
Since music generally acts as a form of choreographic cue card for dancers, Xiaocheng had to find an alternative way of training the hearing impaired. He hit upon the method of stamping out the beats during rehearsals, allowing the dancers to assimilate the musical rhythms. During dance performances, white-gloved “conductors” on both sides of the stage guide performers and keep them on track.
Xiaocheng’s troupe of about 30 dancers, singers and musicians became a popular amateur act in China, spreading the message of equality and participation. But in 2000, the organization upped its game, creating “‘Dance China’ – My Dream” and cutting ties with the government to go professional. The troupe has since performed at both the Athens and the Beijing Olympics, as well as in 100 countries around the world.
Performers now vie for a place in the troupe, with only a few dozen chosen to train from thousands of hopefuls. They live in dormitory accommodation in Beijing, rehearsing almost daily, and rarely go home to their families, except during Chinese New Year.
Yet membership in the troupe nonetheless fulfils a dream for many of them — offering an opportunity to show off their talents to a much wider audience and be recognized as professionals. For saxophonist Wang Qi, being accepted into CDPPAT offered an opportunity to play the instrument he fell in love with at a school for the blind.
Qi lost his sight to a firecracker accident at age 13 and played nightclubs to help fund years of instrumental study. He won several prestigious saxophone competitions with both blind and sighted musicians, before joining the troupe.
“Though I cannot see the audience,” he commented after his first tour to Singapore, “the enthusiastic response and welcoming ambience from the crowd makes me feel the self-value which is distinct from playing sax in nightclubs.”
This year’s performance of “‘Dance China’ – My Dream” will feature eight new pieces. “The Other Shore,” performed by an all-male cast, highlights the beauty of power and strength. And vocal solo “Paradise,” as well as the piano solo “Fantasy Impromptu,” conveys the beautiful world inside the hearts of the blind.
“Thousand-hand Bodhisattva” is a seasoned favourite — the dance was performed at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Athens Paralympics and has featured the talents of five generations of hearing impaired dancers.
Visually impaired pianist Jin Yuanhui also performed at the opening ceremony of 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
“The title of this program (“‘Dance China’ – My Dream”) is very appropriate,” says Gao. “Everybody has their dreams and these performers show that if you fight hard enough to reach the dream, you can achieve success.”